I-beam roller



ys, 1956 P. 1.. SYMONS 2,744,472

I-BEAM ROLLER Filed March 24, 1953 INVENTOR. PERCY L SYMONS BY fil M W ATTORNEYS United States Patent I-BEAM ROLLER Percy L. Symons, Portland, reg., assignor to Albina Engine &.Machine- Works, Inc., Portland, Greg, a corporation ofv Oregon.

Application March 24, 1953, Serial No. 344,433

3 Claims. (Cl. 105-154) This invention relates to equipment for use with suspended staging and, morespecifically, to a device by which staging may be supported from and moved relative to overhead I-beams..

It is frequently necessary for work to be performed on, or next to, a ceiling whichis supported in part by I-beams. For example, it may be desirable to apply a coat of paint or other material to a ceiling, to repair the ceiling, or to install cables, electric wiring, or conduits of various types in or next to the ceiling. Insuch instances, it is necessary that, whatever platform ,isprovided, for supporting the workmen performing the. job inquestion, be moved relative to the ceiling as the work progresses.

It is a main objectof the present invention to provide a rollerdevice adapted to be mountedon, supported from. and moved along an I-beam, wherebystagingmay be suspendedfrom one ormore of such devices to enable the performance of the operations generally outlined above.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a roller device of the. type generally indicated above adapted to fit onto and roll along the lower flanges of an. I-beam, the roller device comprising two spaced hanger frames adapted to occupy positions adjacent the longitudinal edges of the lower flanges of an I-beam, a wheel supported for rotation. about a horizontal axis on each hanger frame and adapted for engagement with the upperface of the adjacent flange of the I-beam to support its hanger from such flange, at least one rollercarried by each hanger for rotation'about a vertical axis and supported imposition for rolling engagement with the longitudinal edge of .the adjacent lower flange of theI-beam, and means connecting the hanger frames adjustable to bring the rollers into engagement with the longitudinal edges of the lower flanges of the particular size I-beam on which the roller device is mounted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a roller device as described in the immediately above paragraph wherein there are means for releasably braking at least one of the wheels, whereby the device may be maintained stationary at different places along an I-beam.

For a consideration of what is believed novel and inventive, attention is directed to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, while the features of novelty will be pointed out with greater particularity in the appended claims.

In the. drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing staging suspended from a pair of roller devices embodying the concepts of the present invention and mounted on I-beams supporting a ceiling;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of one of the roller devices, showing fragmentarily the I-beam on which the device is mounted, and further showing the brake arrangement in its operative position;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the device of Fig. 2, taken in the direction of the-line 3-3 in Fig. 2, showing in full lines the brake arrangement in its operative position, and

2,744,472 Patented May 8, 19 56 ice showing in broken lines the brake arrangement in its released or inoperative position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, there is disclosed in Fig. 1 a stage arrangement including a platform 11 and stirrups 13 from which extend cables 15, the latter being connected to a pair of roller devices generally indicated at 17 from which the stage is suspended. The roller devices are mounted on and movable alongparallel I-beams 19 supporting a ceiling 21. The'devices could, of course, be both mounted on the same I-beam, but the manner of mounting the devices in Fig. l is more frequently employed.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it is apparent that a roller device includes two spaced hanger frames 23 occupying vertical positions adjacent the longitudinal edges 25 of the lower flanges 27 of the I-beam 19 shown. The hanger frames are connected by a shaft 28 about which more will be presently said.

Carried by each hanger frame adjacent the inner face thereof by an axle 29 extending horizontally through the hanger frame is a wheel 31 rollingly engaging the upper face of adjacent flange 27. Each wheel 31 has a rubber tire 33 and a nonresilient, preferably metal, hub 35 mounted on the axle 29. The construction of wheel 31 is largely a matter of choice, except that it is preferable that the wheel have a resilient periphery.

Each axle 29 is formed with a stop flange 36 which is brought into engagement with the inner face of its hanger frame by a nut 37 threaded onto the outer end of the axle against a lock washer 39 of conventional construction. The wheels may be retained on the axle by any conventional elements such as cotter pins 41. Suitable thrust washers 42 are provided on each axle 29 at the opposite sides of its wheel.

Each hanger frame 23 is provided with a pair of ears 43 forwardly of its Wheel 31 and another set of ears 44 rearwardly of its wheel. The two ears of each pair of ears are horizontally disposed and vertically spaced as shown. A rubber-covered roller 45 is mounted for rotation about a vertical shaft extending through each pair of ears. The shaft takes the form of a bolt 47 for both of the rear sets of ears, and for the front left-hand set of ears, as'the parts are depicted in Fig. 3, but assumes the form of a brake rod 49 for the front right-hand set of cars. The brake rod will be further described hereinafter. The bolts 47' are held'in place by nuts 51. The rubber-covered rollers-45 are adapted to be positioned in engagement with the longitudinal'edges 25 of the lower flanges 27.

For positioning the rollers 45 in engagement with the edges 25 of the lower flanges 27, whatever the size of the I-beam might be, within reasonable size variations, there is provided an adjustable connection between the hanger frames 23, said connection including the shaft 28, previ: ously mentioned, which slidably extends through bosses 53 provided by the hanger frames 23. The shaft 28, adjacent each of its ends, is provided with a set of spaced holes 55, each set adapted to selectively receive a locking pin 57.

When the device is initially mounted on the lower flanges of an I-beam, each pin 57 hangs loose on a chain to the outer faces of bosses 53. The holes are spaced for standard size I-beams, so that they are correctly disposed relative to the outer faces of the bosses when the rollers are in engagement with the lower flanges of an I-beam.

I The locking pins now function to hold the hanger frames against outward movement and consequently function to retain the rollers 45 in rolling engagement with the longitudinal edges of the lower flanges.

Each locking pin has a pivoted end portion 61 formed so that, when it is pivoted into axial alignment with the remainder of the pin, it will constitute a continuation of the remainder of said pin to enable the pin to be readily inserted into. one of the pin-receiving holes provided in shaft 28. However, after insertion, the portion 61 of a locking pin is pivoted ninety degrees, as shown in Fig, 2, to prevent accidental dislodgment of the pin from the shaft.

A collar 62 is secured by a setscrew 63 to each end of the shaft 28. These collars prevent accidental separation of the hanger frames from shaft 28 when the pins 57 are removed during adjustment of the hanger frames on said shaft.

Affixed centrally to the shaft 28 is a flange 65 formed with an eye 67 for receiving a shackle 68 to which a cable end may be connected.

An arrangement is provided for braking one of the wheels 31, the left-hand wheel as the parts are depicted in Fig. 3. This arrangement includes the brake rod 49, previously mentioned, having fixed to its lower end a handle 69, and slidably extending at its upper end through a U- shaped link 71 spring-pressed upwardly by a compression spring 72. Spring 72 surrounds the brake rod 49 and is contained between the link 71 and the adjacent car on the associated hanger frame. Jam nuts 75 are threaded on the upper end of the brake rod 49 to limit upward movement of the link 71 relative to the brake rod. A washer 77 is provided between the lower jam nut and the link 71, and a washer 78is arranged at each end of spring 72. The free ends of link 71 are pivotally connected by a pivot bolt 79 to an arm 81, which the ends straddle, said arm being fixed to or formed integral with the associated hanger frame. A nut 82 is threaded on the inner end of the bolt 79 (see Fig. 3).

Fixed to and extending laterally from the link 71 intermediate the ends thereof is a braking element 83 assuming the form of a rod. The braking element 83 is held against the associated wheel 31, as the parts are depicted in solid lines in Fig. 3, by handle 69 having been pulled downwardly and the short end thereof fitted under a downwardly facing saddle 85 fixed to the associated hanger frame. The handle may be released by turning the same ninety degrees from the position shown in Fig. 2, Whereupon the handle, brake rod 49, link 71 and braking element 83 move upwardly under the influence of the compression spring 72 to inoperative positions.

It is apparent that when a roller device is mounted on an I-beam, the device may be releasably held in a plurality of fixed positions along the I-beam by applying and then subsequently releasing the braking arrangement at successive intervals.

By the present invention, a roller device has been provided which can be readily applied to I-beams of different sizes by merely Withdrawing the locking pins 57 and shifting the hanger frames inwardly or outwardly to positions where the rollers 45 are disposed in engagement with the longitudinal edges of the lower flanges of the I-beam. The advantages of the braking arrangement have just been mentioned above and therefore they need not hereiterated here. Although the roller device of the present invention is ideally suited to suspend staging, the invention is not intended to be limited to such use.

Having described the invention in what are considered to be preferred embodiments thereof, it is desired that it be understood that the specific details shown are merely illustrative and that the invention may be carried out in other ways.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A roller device adapted to be mounted on and roll along the lower flanges of an I-beam, comprising two spaced hanger frames adapted to occupy positions adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges of the lower flanges of an I-bearn, a wheel supported for rotation about a horizontal axis by each hanger frame and adapted for engagement with the upper face of the adjacent lower flange of the I- beam to support the associated hanger frame from such flange, at least one roller carried by each hanger for rotation about a vertical axis and supported in position for rolling engagement with the longitudinal edge of the adjacent lower flange of the I-beam, a vertical shaft rotatably supported by one frame and having the associated roller journaled thereon, means connecting the hanger frames to hold the rollers in engagement with the longitudinal edges of the lower flanges of the I-beam on which the roller device is mounted, and means for releasably braking at least one of the wheels whereby the device may be maintained stationary on an I-beam, the last-named means including a braking element carried by one end of said shaft and disposed adjacent the associated wheel, and a handle on the other end of said shaft for actuating the shaft to bring said braking element into engagement with said wheel.

2. A roller device adaptedto be mounted on and roll along the lower flanges of an I-beam, comprising two spaced hanger frames adapted to occupy positions adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges of the lower flanges of an I-beam, a wheel supported for rotation about a horizontal axis by each hanger frame and adapted for engagement with the upper face of the adjacent lower flange of the I-beam to support the associated hanger frame from such flange, at least one roller carried by each hanger for rotation about a vertical axis and supported in position for rolling engagement with the longitudinal edge of the adjacent lower flange of the I-beam, a vertical shaft rotatably supported by one hanger frame and having the associated roller journaled thereon, means connecting the hanger frames to hold the rollers in engagement with the longitudinal edges of the lower flanges of the I-beam on which the roller device is mounted, and means for releasably braking the wheel associated with said one hanger frame to maintain said device stationary on an I-beam, the last-named means including a link pivotally connected to said one hanger frame and being jonrnaled on one end of said shaft, a braking element extended from said link adjacent the associated wheel, said shaft being longitudinally slidable in said one hanger frame, and a handle on the other end of the shaft by which the shaft may be moved longitudinally to bring said braking element into engagement with said wheel.

3. A roller device adapted to be mounted on and roll along the lower flanges of an I-beam, comprising two spaced hanger frames adapted to occupy positions adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges of the lower flanges of an I-beam, a wheel supported for rotation about a horizontal axis by each hanger frame and adapted for engagement with the upper face of the adjacent lower flange of the I-beam to support the associated hanger frame from such flange, at least one roller carried by each hanger for rotation about a vertical axis and supported in position for rolling engagement with the longitudinal edge of the adjacent lower flange of the I-beam, a vertical shaft rotatably supported by one hanger frame and having the associated roller jonrnaled thereon, means connecting the hanger frames to hold the rollers in engagement with the longitudinal edges of the lower flanges of the I-beam on which the roller device is mounted, and means for releasably braking the wheel associated with said one hanger frame to maintain said device stationary on an I-beam, the last-named means including a braking element carried by one end of said shaft in a position adjacent the associated wheel. and above the axis of rotation of said wheel, said shaft being longitudinally slidable on said one hanger frame so that when said shaft is pulled downwardly said braking element is brought into engagement with said associated wheel to brake the same, and means for releasably maintaining said shaft in a downward position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hood Feb. 23, 1909 Moore July 13, 1909 Hescock Mar. 8, 1910 Steedman June 7, 1910 Steedman Aug. 24, 1915 Hescock Apr. 18, 1916 Fitch Aug. 24, 1920 Butler Sept. 20, 1921 6 Bee Feb. 28, 1922 Krause Aug. 1, 1922 Howard Aug. 25, 1925 Jarvis June 28, 1927 Hamel May 1, 1928 Moore May 13, 1930 Meyer Oct. 14, 1930 Frank et a1 Nov. 1, 1938 vMartin Dec. 9, 1941 Schroeder May 12, 1942 Seward Feb. 25, 1947 Flounders Ian. 8, 1952 Smallpeice Sept. 23, 1952 

